Explosion Protection Services

Testing and Certification for Products Used in Explosive Atmospheres

Explosion Protection Services

Testing and Certification for Products Used in Explosive Atmospheres

Explosion Protection Services

Explosive atmospheres can occur wherever flammable gases, vapors, or combustible dusts are present — from chemical plants to energy storage facilities and mining operations. In these high-risk environments, even a small ignition source can lead to severe consequences. Therefore, explosion protection is crucial to ensure that all equipment and systems operate safely, safeguarding people, property, and processes.

As a recognized European Notified Body for testing and certification of products designed to operate in dangerous or potentially explosive atmospheres, DEKRA assists manufacturers and importers in demonstrating compliance with the highest international safety standards.

Through our Explosion Protection Services, we test and certify equipment according to the ATEX Directive (2014/34/EU), the IECEx Scheme, and other international requirements. With our extensive expertise and global network, DEKRA helps you bring safe, compliant, and trusted products to markets worldwide.

The DEKRA Advantage in Explosion Protection

Explosion protection is about confidence—the confidence that your products perform safely, comply with international standards, and are recognized globally. Partnering with DEKRA provides that confidence through expert testing, certification, and guidance.

Benefits of DEKRA Explosion Protection Services

Trusted Expertise and Global Recognition: As a European Notified Body and founding member of the IECEx Scheme, DEKRA’s certifications are respected and accepted by authorities and industries worldwide.
Comprehensive Compliance: Our testing and certification processes under ATEX, IECEx, UKEX, and other international standards ensure conformity across all significant markets.
Efficiency and Speed to Market: Combined testing and certification processes reduce duplication and shorten approval timelines.
Technical Depth and Reliability: With decades of experience in explosion protection for electrical, non-electrical, and protective systems, DEKRA guarantees technical accuracy and reliability in every certification.
Global Service, Local Support: Our laboratories and experts in Europe, Asia, and the Americas provide coordinated services and consistent quality wherever you operate.

With DEKRA, you gain a trusted partner focused on supporting safety, compliance, and confidence in every explosive environment.

Our Explosion Protection Services

Explosion protection applies to a wide range of products and applications, from electrical devices and mechanical equipment to protective systems and complete assemblies. DEKRA offers testing and certification across all key categories.

Electrical equipment used in explosive atmospheres must meet strict safety requirements to prevent ignition from sparks, hot surfaces, or electrical energy.

DEKRA tests and certifies all types of explosion-proof electrical equipment in accordance with the ATEX Directive (2014/34/EU) and the IECEx Scheme, following the EN/IEC 60079 series (Parts 0–37) standards.

We conduct all necessary tests for each type of protection concept, from flameproof enclosures to intrinsically safe designs. Our experts perform detailed assessments of product design and technical documentation, verify labelling and user manuals, conduct electrostatic testing and evaluation, and prepare comprehensive test reports to support international approvals and market access.

As a founding member of the IECEx Scheme, DEKRA collaborates with leading certification and approval bodies, ensuring global acceptance of your certifications. Our test results are recognized by FM Approvals, USCG, MSHA (USA), NEPSI (China), and KGS (South Korea), among others.

Typical products include: control units, switches, sensors, transmitters, actuators, motors, pumps, luminaires, power distribution devices, and portable or communication equipment.

Our services cover:

Testing and certification of all protection types under ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU
Quality Management System certification (QAN)
Testing and certification within the IECEx Scheme
Quality Management System certification (QAR) under IECEx
Testing and certification services in accordance with INMETRO regulations (Brazil)
Testing and certification according to Japanese regulations for JPEx
C-US Assessment and certification to OSHA and CSA standards for the U.S. and Canada.
Testing and certification services according to UKEX for UKCA certification
Functional safety testing of electrical safety devices

Non-electrical or mechanical equipment can also create ignition sources through friction, impact, or electrostatic discharge. DEKRA tests and certifies this type of equipment under the ATEX Directive (2014/34/EU) and the IECEx Scheme, in accordance with ISO 80079-36 andISO 80079-37.

Typical products cover: pumps, compressors, turbines, valves, brakes, couplings, conveyors, rotary airlocks, mixers, agitators, and compactors.

Our services cover:

Type testing and certification for ATEX and IECEx
Ignition hazard analysis and documentation review
Quality system assessments (QAN / QAR)
Support for product updates and modifications
Preparation of test reports for regional approvals

We support compliance for both Device Group II (industrial) and Device Group I (mining) equipment, ensuring readiness for all target markets.

Protective systems are crucial for limiting or mitigating the effects of explosions. DEKRA tests and certifies a wide range of autonomous protective systems according to EN 16447 and related standards.

Typical systems cover: Explosion pressure relief devices (rupture disks, vents, flaps), suppression systems, and isolation systems (quick-closing valves, extinguishing barriers, rotary feeders).

Our services include:

Functional and performance testing
Certification according to ATEX and IECEx
Material and structural analysis
Documentation and instruction review

We conduct large-scale explosion testing at our facilities under realistic operating conditions to verify performance and mechanical strength.

Assemblies and plant systems integrate multiple explosion-protected components that must function safely as a unit. DEKRA evaluates and certifies complete assemblies under the ATEX Directive (2014/34/EU) and IECEx 02.

Our services cover:

Ignition hazard assessment for assembled systems
Verification of component compatibility
Evaluation of electrostatic discharge and grounding
Review of documentation, labelling, and markings

These processes ensure that every component performs safely and consistently within the overall system.

Many industrial processes involve combustible dusts that can create explosive atmospheres when dispersed in air. To ensure that products and systems designed for such environments operate safely, it is crucial to understand the explosion characteristics of the materials involved.

At DEKRA, we provide comprehensive combustible dust testing to determine the ignition and explosion properties of powders and dusts used or generated in production.

This knowledge is vital for the design, testing, and certification of equipment intended for dust explosion hazard zones under ATEX and IECEx requirements.

Our testing capabilities include:

Dust Explosion Screening – Identify combustibility and explosibility.
Ignition Sensitivity – Measure minimum ignition energy (MIE) and minimum ignition temperature (MIT).
Explosion Severity – Determine maximum explosion pressure (Pmax) and deflagration index (Kst).
Flammability Limits – Establish oxygen and concentration thresholds.
Electrostatic Assessment – Evaluate potential ignition sources and discharge risks.

Through DEKRA’s expertise in dust testing, manufacturers obtain reliable data to ensure that products perform safely and comply with international explosion protection standards.

Service facilities that overhaul, repair, or modify equipment used in hazardous areas must uphold the same safety standards as original manufacturing. The IECEx 03 Certified Service Facilities Scheme provides a global framework for the assessment and certification of workshops according to IEC 60079-14, IEC 60079-17, and IEC 60079-19.

This certification demonstrates compliance with explosion protection requirements and confirms that an effective quality management system is in place. Accepted across all IECEx member countries, it allows service providers to offer their capabilities internationally.

As a Certification Body for IECEx 02, 03, 04, and 05, DEKRA supports companies in achieving and maintaining certification for their service operations, ensuring safety, reliability, and worldwide market acceptance.

Why Do ATEX & IECEx Certification Matter?

Explosion protection testing ultimately leads to certification, which serves as proof that your equipment meets the world's most trusted safety standards for use in hazardous environments. ATEX and IECEx certification are crucial for ensuring that products are safe, compliant, and ready for market access, whether in Europe or in global markets. With DEKRA's international expertise and accredited testing facilities, manufacturers can gain confidence that their equipment operates reliably and meets all regulatory requirements for explosive atmospheres.

Learn more about our ATEX & IECEx Certification

Selected Recognitions

As European Notified Bodies, no. 0158 (DEKRA Testing and Certification GmbH) and no. 0344 (DEKRA Certification B.V.), we test, assess, and certify according to:

ATEX Directive (2014/34/EU)
IECEx Certification Body
EN IEC 60079 (Parts 0–37)

As an IEC test lab, certification body, and inspection body, we certify according to:

IECEx 01, 02, and 04 (equipment)
IECEx 03 (facility inspection)
IECEx 05 (personnel)

Furthermore, DEKRA is registered as a test house for:

UKEX Certification (UKCA Marking for Ex Equipment)
INMETRO Certification (Brazil Ex certification and audit)
FM Approvals (North America)
TIIS (Technology Institution of Industrial Safety), Japan
KCs - Korean Certificate of Safety - for equipment in explosive atmospheres (Ex)
Registered Certification Body for Ex products in Japan (JPEx)

Why DEKRA?

Type Approval	International market access	Factory audits
IECEX ATEX INMETRO JPEx NACS UKEX	China India Korea Russia Taiwan United Arab Emirates	IECEX ATEX China (CCC) INMETRO UKEX

Selected Recognitions

As the European Notified Bodies no. 0158 (DEKRA EXAM GmbH) and no. 0344 (DEKRA Certification B.V.) we test, assess and certify according to:

ATEX Directive (2014/34/EU)
EN IEC 60079 (0 – 37)

Our Services in Detail

Electrical Equipment

Are you ready for fast and competent determination of compliance?

Testing and certification of all types of protection according to ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU
Certification of quality management systems according to Directive 2014/34/EU
Testing and certification within the IECEx scheme
Certification of quality management systems according to IECEx scheme
Testing and certification according to Brazilian technical regulations for INMETRO
Certification of quality management systems according to Brazilian regulations for INMETRO
Assessment and testing of electrical safety and explosion safety for North American hazardous classified areas

Non-Electrical Equipment

Plants (Equipment Assemblies)

Dusts

Service Facilities in Explosive Atmospheres

Explosion Protection Services

The DEKRA Advantage in Explosion Protection

Benefits of DEKRA Explosion Protection Services​

Our Explosion Protection Services​

Benefits of DEKRA Explosion Protection Services

Our Explosion Protection Services